I don't think any club has gutted its list to the same extent that we have over the last five years. If you look back on my posts its a strategy I never agreed with from the start and we're still suffering the effect of what was a poor decision in the first place. But it does explain why we are where we are. The hope is that this year is a consolidation and we finally start to reap some benefits of a course of action we never should have embarked upon.
Lods to me you are describing the difference between confident, battle-hardened professionals and probably well trained players but whose past lack of positive reinforcements has left them tentative, lacking in confidence and without poise.
That comes with long periods of playing together and gaining an understanding of our team-mates strengths and weaknesses I think one of the major problems of the rebuild process we've undertaken is that with the constant list changes we haven't had a settled side for the last five or so years. Again this year our team is not yet settled with the introduction of new players and injuries. Until we get a core group playing together consistently I don't have high expectations. What I do want to see towards the end of the season is a more settled side.
It might not help much, but I've heard a few players say that when they do match simulation and skills work at training, they never miss a target. Clearly that's not much good when you're playing for 4 points, but if it's true (I'm sure it is), then the skills are there, but clearly there's a subtle shift in mindset that occurs on match day, because when it comes to the game, things don't go smoothly.
I think some of us (those that don't see it regularly) would be quite surprised at the actual skills these players show at training. I've no doubt the skills are there It's probably not so much a different mindset as a different level of pressure that players experience under match conditions. Under pressure the skills fall apart, disposals are rushed and erratic. When we are able to apply our own level of high pressure suddenly those skills wont look so bad....but that will require players going hard and supporting one another for 4 quarters...not just two and a half.
This is a 'Clayton's' season as far as I'm concerned. My only interest in it is watching us develop and set up for 2021.
There was a lot of positives there today. Pittonet's fightback. Docherty showing some glimpses of his pre-injury form. Betts didn't have a great impact but his defensive pressure was great. Cripps' didn't have a great game by his standards but still had an influence. Weitering was solid.
You're not just whistling Dixie. There are deep divisions, but they were there before Trump and he's just a catalyst. Pop in a pandemic and you have a recipe for disaster. As a group our people are pretty similar... except in the way we pronounce 'castle' and the fact that the only true scallop is a potato slice covered in batter. The USA ,apart from a similar common language, is more like 50 different micro-nations. Add in strong and assertive minorities and it creates a situation we really cant appreciate,
In relation to Biden, my concern is that he gives Trump a chance when in fact he shouldn't have one. The guy will be lucky to last half a term, should he be successful in gaining the top job. He should have been the nominee 4 years ago. Now he should be looking at aged care. The one positive is that unlike Trump he will no doubt have folks around him that will be the ones with the real control. If Biden v Trump is the best they can do they are truly...well you know.
He's got more problems than twitter. They're in 'more trouble than the early explorers' over there with looting and an out of control virus in many areas. Not a lot of social distancing in a mob.
The mental side of things will play a big part in these early games. This will be a preparation unlike any other How has the isolation and somewhat limited monitoring of training affected players? Every individual will have coped with this differently. The teams that can re-gel quickest will have an advantage and game results may be a little wonky for a couple of weeks.
This shouldn't even be a contest. It will be. How Biden is a better choice than many of those Democrats who dropped out defies logic. But 'logic' and 'US politics' seem to be mutually exclusive.
The Dem VP choice will be significant. They're (She's) going to have to take over at some stage.
Any sort of round robin competition would only be to fill some space. It shouldn't and couldn't be deemed a "premiership" for the winner. Play it in that spirit and it would be OK. Players would appreciate a run of sorts even if it was only for a half dozen games then into the off-season with a bit of match practice behind them.
The problem would be the draft. That could possibly be solved by a lottery for positions from 2019. Top half in one pool and bottom half in another.
Nice thoughts Capcom....and it is quiet at present.
It's a funny situation and a little difficult to explain. I just have no 'feel' for football at the moment. Normally at this time of the year I'd be glued to the site but at the moment it has a very low priority. I'm in the process of buying and selling a home. I'm living in a hired caravan at my daughters, who is due to have a baby in two months time, and I have some concerns over my own health that put me in a position where I really cant afford to get a dose of the 'dreaded'.
Having said that I think there is a general quietness on site. That stems from the rather unique position we find ourselves in. You see, apart from a few weeks around Christmas the football (and discussion) never really stops in a normal year. During the season we have plenty to discuss in terms of games and player performance. Then there are the finals followed quickly by a frantic trade and draft period that takes us through to November. A couple of weeks break for Christmas and then it's back to preseason training and the anticipation of the coming season.
Contrast that with this period. No football, no training, and no real idea when and if things can return to normal, what that will look like and what the fall-out will be.
My personal preference would be that we scrap the season. It won't be a true competition. That doesn't mean 'no football' and if the opportunity presents itself we could play some type of World Cup competition over a couple of months, with a round robin set up in 3 or four groups followed by a few weeks of quarters, semi and finals.
How can a group of young men possibly have their total concentration on playing football at this time....especially when a look into the stands will reinforce that these are not normal times.
